Charges Filed in Pennsylvania Horse Death

A Pennsylvania woman has been charged with animal cruelty after her elderly mare died of alleged starvation earlier this week.

Jan Dillon, humane officer for the Humane Society of Westmoreland County, said personnel from Second Chance Equine Association discovered the approximately 30-year-old Quarter Horse wandering in Westmoreland County on Nov. 12. The animal allegedly escaped through a downed fence in its Derry Township, Pa., pasture, Dillon said. When found, the horse was allegedly extremely emaciated and had numerous medical conditions, she said.

“We took 41 ticks off of her when we got her to the Second Chance quarantine barn; she was also anemic,” Dillon said. “The veterinarian said she was starving because her teeth were so bad that she could not eat.”

The horse's owner later surrendered the mare to Second Chance.

On Nov. 17, the horse died of severe malnutrition, Dillon said.

Two days later, the horse's owner Paula A. Achhammer was charged with one count of animal cruelty, Dillon said. The charge carries maximum penalty of a fine up to $750. Dillon said she will also seek $500 restitution in veterinarian costs.

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